Do you know: I, a commoner prime minister

Chapter 80 Seeing Sheng Changbai Again

"I'm tired of Bianjing. I've heard Yangzhou is fun, so I'm thinking of going there for a visit," Gu Tingye said casually.

"Then you chose the wrong time!"

Yuan Wenchun laughed and said, "Didn't someone's poem say, 'In the third month of spring, amidst the fireworks, I go down to Yangzhou'? Although I've never been to Yangzhou, I've heard that the scenery there is most beautiful in March and April."

"It's alright, the scenery is different in each season."

Gu Tingye wasn't in a good mood and gave a perfunctory reply.

"Too."

Yuan Wenchun nodded, then said somewhat shyly, "I have something I'd like to ask Zhong Huai for a favor!"

"Brother Yuan, please feel free to speak your mind. I will certainly not refuse to help if I can," Gu Tingye said.

He came to Yangzhou without informing his family because it was so sudden and they couldn't find a direct boat to Yangzhou.

They happened to see the Yuan family's betrothal ship and learned that they were going to Yangzhou to present their betrothal gifts, so they went to find Yuan Wenchun.

Regardless, he still owed her a favor, and since Yuan Wenchun was asking for his help, he couldn't very well refuse outright.

"Zhonghuai also knows the purpose of my trip."

Yuan Wenchun said, "I overheard that the eldest daughter of the Sheng family has a bad temper, and I'm worried that she will cause unrest in the household after she marries into the family."

"I want to trouble Zhong Huai, so I'll seize the opportunity to cause some trouble for the Sheng family, as a way of giving them a warning."

Gu Tingye remained silent upon hearing this, as he did not believe Yuan Wenchun's words at all.

The Sheng family lived far away in Yangzhou. If a young woman of marriageable age were truly of bad character, and the news had spread all the way to Bianjing, it would surely be common knowledge.

How could the Yuan family only find out after the engagement was arranged?

Moreover, even if the eldest daughter of the Sheng family has a bad temper, the marriage between the Yuan and Sheng families would be a step up for the Sheng family.

Once inside, what trouble could possibly arise?

Although he didn't know Yuan Wenchun's true intentions, Gu Tingye thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "If I can find an opportunity, I will do as Brother Yuan wishes. If I really can't find an opportunity, please don't blame me, Brother Yuan!"

"That's natural!"

Yuan Wenchun smiled and nodded, saying, "Then I won't bother Zhong Huai any longer!"

Gu Tingye bowed respectfully, watched him leave, then turned back to stare at the water, lost in thought.

Yuan Wenchun went into the cabin and returned to her room.

"My lord, how is it?"

When Madam Feng saw him return, she quickly asked, "Did Second Master Gu agree?"

"He did agree, but it was rather perfunctory!" Yuan Wenchun said, pursing her lips.

"What should we do then?"

Madam Feng frowned and said, "Are we supposed to do it ourselves?"

"Don't worry, he just wants to agree first, and then he'll say he hasn't found a suitable opportunity later."

Yuan Wenchun sneered, "If he can't find it, I'll find it for him. How can he then refuse?"

"Your words make sense, sir!"

Madam Feng laughed and said, "It would be best to make a big scene and give the Sheng family a warning. Then, even if the Sheng family's daughter suffers mistreatment after entering the family, the Sheng family won't dare to cause trouble at the Yuan family's house!"

Yuan Wenshao was already in his early twenties, and the reason why he was still unmarried at this age was largely due to the fact that the Yuan family had been stripped of their title in earlier years.

In earlier years, the Yuan family was implicated in the struggle for succession and was stripped of their titles.

It wasn't until the current emperor took power that the Yuan family was exonerated and their titles restored.

However, this only applies to the title; the ancestral property and residence that were confiscated when the title was taken away have not been returned.

However, the emperor was indeed kind and generous, and granted him a house in the outer city.

Although the Yuan family regained their title, they lost their ancestral property, making them a laughing stock among the noble families of Bianjing.

Families of equal social standing looked down on the Yuan family. Those willing to marry into the Yuan family were also rejected by the Yuan family.

Yuan Wenshao's father wanted to choose the tallest among the short, but his mother only liked the eldest son and was determined to marry a wealthy woman so that she could give a larger dowry.

External and internal reasons have led to the fact that Yuan Wenshao, the eldest son of an earl's family, is still unmarried even though he is over twenty years old.

Sheng Hong went to Bianjing to report on his duties and happened to attend a celebratory banquet of an official, where Yuan Wenshao's father was also present.

Although Sheng Hong's official position was not high, he was about to be promoted, and he was marrying the daughter of the late Grand Tutor Wang, which was indeed a good choice.

In Sheng Hong's eyes, even though the Yuan family had declined, they were still a noble family, so the two hit it off immediately.

In particular, he was very satisfied with Yuan Wenshao after meeting him.

On the Yuan family's side, Yuan Wenshao's mother inquired and learned that the old lady of the Sheng family was the only daughter of the late Marquis Yongyi, and that Madam Wang was the daughter of Grand Tutor Wang, which made her very satisfied.

Everyone knows that the late Marquis Yongyi only had one daughter, and when she married off, he practically emptied the entire Marquis's mansion.

If the marriage is arranged with the Sheng family, the Sheng family will be marrying into a higher social class, and will definitely have to provide a larger dowry.

If they could get their hands on these dowries and keep them in the Earl's mansion, the Yuan family's life would be much better.

Yuan Wenchun is the eldest son of the legitimate wife and will inevitably inherit the title in the future. Once the family is divided in the future, Hualan will naturally take her dowry with her.

If one wants to retain their dowry after dividing the family property, they will inevitably have to use some methods.

Even if a husband uses his wife's dowry, he will be looked down upon, let alone if his mother-in-law and brothers try to take advantage of the dowry.

Doing things this way will leave you in the wrong no matter where you go.

Even if we can use some methods to keep it from outsiders, we can fool outsiders but not Hualan.

Hua Lan has ways to control the Yuan family after she married into it, but the most troublesome thing is the Sheng family.

Civil officials value their reputation above all else. Even if the Sheng family is of lower social standing than the Yuan family, they cannot pretend not to know that their daughter's in-laws are plotting to provide a dowry.

Otherwise, once the news gets out, people will not only laugh at the Yuan family, but also at the Sheng family.

After discussing it for a long time, Madam Yuan and her eldest son and his wife decided to give the Sheng family a hard time.

Originally, Lord Yuan promised that he would bring his wife to the Sheng family to formally propose marriage.

Ultimately, at his wife's insistence, the eldest son and his wife were allowed to go.

Yuan Wenchun felt that this was not enough, but they could not provoke trouble themselves, otherwise it would be detrimental to the Yuan family's reputation.

Just then, Gu Tingye appeared. After discussing it with Yuan Wenchun and her husband, they realized that there was no one more convenient than Gu Tingye to do these things.

Anyway, Gu Tingye isn't a member of the Yuan family. Even if he causes trouble and the Sheng family questions him, they can't do anything about it once they reveal Gu Tingye's identity.

As for whether this would cause the wedding to fall through, they weren't worried at all.

Now that the engagement has come to this point, if the Sheng family breaks off the engagement, even if the Yuan family is in the wrong, it will only be detrimental to the Sheng family if word gets out.

The Yuan family holds a noble title, so no matter how damaged their reputation is, they shouldn't be unable to find wives.

But it's different for the woman. Once rumors spread that there's something wrong with the eldest daughter of the Sheng family, which is why the marriage didn't happen, it will be very difficult for her to get married.

It was precisely because she felt emboldened that Madam Feng wanted Gu Tingye to escalate the situation.

Only by making the Sheng family suffer a loss will they not dare to cause trouble when they learn that the Yuan family is plotting to provide dowry.

.........

At Yangzhou Wharf, a passenger ship slowly docks.

Sheng Wei and his wife were in front, Sheng Yun followed beside her sister-in-law, and behind them were Zhou An and his wife and Sheng Changsong.

Sheng Changbai, who was waiting at the dock, rushed over to greet the group as they disembarked.

"Nephew greets Uncle and Aunt, Aunt..." Sheng Changbai bowed in turn.

"Brother Bai, what brings you here?" Sheng Wei asked, somewhat surprised.

Even if you know the departure time, it's difficult to calculate the exact arrival time from Tongzhou to Yangzhou; being half a day or a day late is quite normal.

"My father calculated the date and had me wait at the dock yesterday afternoon."

Sheng Changbai smiled and said, "If Father hadn't been so busy with official duties that he couldn't get away, he would have come to greet me in person."